Intelligent media profile management

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods manage information relating to paper media to enhance the quality of printing by printers. Systems and methods efficiently maintain color management profiles for different papers and ensure that the most appropriate (e.g., optimal) color management profile is employed for color conversion on a specific paper. In particular, embodiments may employ dynamic management of data stored in paper catalogs of printing systems. As such, a paper catalog of a printer can effectively associate a paper with a color management profile that provides the best possible color reproduction on that paper.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to printing on paper media, andmore particularly, to managing information relating to different papermedia to enhance the quality of printing by printers.

BACKGROUND

To achieve high quality color reproduction, print shops employ differentcolor management profiles for paper media. Ideally, each paper has aone-to-one association with a color management profile customized foreach printer. In reality, however, print shops cannot profile all thepapers they use. Most print shops use hundreds of papers, but to createa good color management profile for each paper, 1,000 to 2,000 colorpatches must be printed and measured.

A printer manufacturer may validate (at most) a few hundred papers witha printer device. The printer device may store a paper catalog includingcolor management profiles for these few hundred validated papers.However, there are thousands of other papers on the market that are notincluded in the paper catalog.

Most print shops can add papers to the paper catalog stored by aprinter, but the printer device manufacturer does not provide colormanagement profiles for these added papers. Print shops can use colormanagement profiles provided by paper producers, but these colormanagement profiles are developed for an “average” printer device andmay not produce high quality color reproduction for particular printers.

Given the challenges of profiling a large number of different papers,many print shops do minimal, if any, color management.

SUMMARY

According to aspects of the present disclosure, systems and methodsmanage information relating to paper media to enhance the quality ofprinting by printers. According to aspects of the present disclosure,systems and methods efficiently maintain color management profiles fordifferent papers and ensure that the most appropriate (e.g., optimal)color management profile is employed for color conversion on a specificpaper. In particular, embodiments may employ dynamic management of datastored in paper catalogs of printing systems. As such, a paper catalogof a printer can effectively associate a paper with a color managementprofile that provides the best possible color reproduction on thatpaper.

In an example embodiment, a method for managing paper information in aprinting system includes storing, in one or more computer storagedevices, a paper catalog. The paper catalog includes records formeasured papers and standard papers. Each record for the measured papershas a respective color information and a respective color managementprofile. Each record for the standard papers has a respective colorinformation but no respective color management profile. The methodincludes identifying one of the standard papers selected by a user. Themethod includes receiving, from the user, print instructions includingcolor preferences. The method includes correlating, by the one or moreprocessors, one of the measured papers to the selected standard paperaccording to the color preferences in the print instructions. The methodincludes outputting, by the one or more processors, the color managementprofile of the correlated measured paper for printing with the selectedstandard paper.

In another example embodiment, a system for managing paper informationin a printing system includes one or more computer storage devicesconfigured to store a paper catalog. The paper catalog includes recordsfor measured papers and standard papers. Each record for the measuredpapers having a respective color information and a respective colormanagement profile. Each record for the standard papers having arespective color information but no respective color management profile.The system has one or more processors configured to execute instructionsstored on computer-readable media, the instructions causing the one ormore processors to: identify one of the standard papers selected by auser; receive, from the user, print instructions including colorpreferences; correlate one of the measured papers to the selectedstandard paper according to the color preferences in the printinstructions; and output the color management profile of the correlatedmeasured paper for printing with the selected standard paper.

A further example embodiment includes one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media for a printing system. The printingsystem includes one or more computer storage devices configured to storea paper catalog. The paper catalog includes records for measured papersand standard papers. Each record for the measured papers has arespective color information and a respective color management profile.Each record for the standard papers has a respective color informationbut no respective color management profile. The one or morenon-transitory computer-readable storage media have computer-executableinstructions stored thereon, wherein when executed by a one or moreprocessors, the computer-executable instructions cause the one or moreprocessors to: identify one of the standard papers selected by a user;receive, from the user, print instructions including color preferences;correlate one of the measured papers to the selected standard paperaccording to the color preferences in the print instructions; and outputthe color management profile of the correlated measured paper forprinting with the selected standard paper.

In an example embodiment, a method for managing paper information in aprinting system includes storing, in one or more computer storagedevices, a paper catalog. The paper catalog includes records formeasured papers. Each measured paper is defined by a respective colorinformation and a respective color management profile. The methodincludes grouping, by one or more computer processors, the measuredpapers into a plurality of groups according to shared characteristics.For each group, the method includes selecting, by one or more computerprocessors, a representative one of the measured papers; and updating,by one or more computer processors, the paper catalog to convert othermeasured papers in the group to standard papers by recording, for theother measured papers, a reference to the representative measured paper.The standard papers are associated with the color management profile ofthe representative measured paper.

In another example embodiment, a system for managing paper informationin a printing system includes one or more computer storage devicesconfigured to store a paper catalog including records for measuredpapers. Each measured paper is defined by a respective color informationand a respective color management profile. The system includes one ormore computer processors configured to execute instructions stored oncomputer-readable media, the instructions causing the one or moreprocessors to group the measured papers into a plurality of groupsaccording to shared characteristics. For each group, the instructionscause the one or more processors to select a representative one of themeasured papers; and update the paper catalog to convert other measuredpapers in the group to standard papers by recording, for the othermeasured papers, a reference to the representative measured paper. Thestandard papers are associated with the color management profile of therepresentative measured paper.

A further example embodiment includes one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media for a printing system. The printingsystem includes one or more computer storage devices configured to storea paper catalog including records for measured papers. Each measuredpaper is defined by a respective color information and a respectivecolor management profile. The one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media has computer-executable instructionsstored thereon, wherein when executed by a one or more processors, thecomputer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors togroup the measured papers into a plurality of groups according to sharedcharacteristics. For each group, the instructions cause the one or moreprocessors to select a representative one of the measured papers; andupdate the paper catalog to convert other measured papers in the groupto standard papers by recording, for the other measured papers, areference to the representative measured paper. The standard papers areassociated with the color management profile of the representativemeasured paper.

In an example embodiment, a method for managing paper information in aprinting system including accessing, by one or more computer processors,a paper catalog including records for measured papers and standardpapers. Each record for the measured papers has a respective colorinformation and a respective color management profile. Each record forthe standard papers has a respective color information but no respectivecolor management profile. The method includes determining, by the one ormore computer processors, a recommendation indicating whether one ormore of the records for standard papers should be converted to recordsfor measured papers and whether one or more of the records for measuredpapers should be converted to records for standard papers. The methodincludes outputting, by the one or more computer processors, therecommendation and may include and may include updating the papercatalog according to the recommendation.

In another example embodiment, a system for managing paper informationin a printing system includes one or more computer storage devicesconfigured to store a paper catalog including records for measuredpapers and standard papers. Each record for the measured papers has arespective color information and a respective color management profile.Each record for the standard papers has a respective color informationbut no respective color management profile. The system includes one ormore computer processors configured to execute instructions stored oncomputer-readable media, the instructions causing the one or moreprocessors to: determine a recommendation indicating whether one or moreof the records for standard papers should be converted to records formeasured papers and whether one or more of the records for measuredpapers should be converted to records for standard papers; and outputthe recommendation.

A further example embodiment includes one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media for a printing system. The printingsystem includes one or more computer storage devices configured to storea paper catalog including records for measured papers and standardpapers. Each record for the measured papers has a respective colorinformation and a respective color management profile. Each record forthe standard papers has a respective color information but no respectivecolor management profile. The one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media has computer-executable instructionsstored thereon, wherein when executed by a one or more processors, thecomputer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to:determine a recommendation indicating whether one or more of the recordsfor standard papers should be converted to records for measured papersand whether one or more of the records for measured papers should beconverted to records for standard papers; and output the recommendation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates an example paper catalog management system formanaging paper information in a printing system, including aspects foradding a new standard paper to the paper catalog, according to aspectsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B illustrates the example system of FIG. 1A, including aspects foradding a new measured paper to the paper catalog, according to aspectsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example method for adding a new standard paper toa paper catalog in a printing system, according to aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates further acts to supplement the example methodillustrated in FIG. 2, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example method for adding a new measured paper toa paper catalog in a printing system, according to aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example method for dynamically correlatingmeasured papers to standard papers in response to updates to a papercatalog in a printing system, according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example method for handling print instructionsfrom a user, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example printing system that evaluates colorinformation for the papers in a paper catalog in a printing system andorganizes the papers with similar characteristics into groups, accordingto aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example method for organizing the papers in apaper catalog in a printing system, according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by wayof example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit thepresent disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on thecontrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, andalternatives falling within the spirit of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION

To achieve reasonable color reproduction with a reasonable level ofeffort, print shops may develop color management profiles for a subsetof the papers they use and apply those color management profiles toother similar papers in the paper catalog. For instance, the print shopcan associate similar papers to a group employing a single colormanagement profile. The same color management profile is then employedwhen printing on any of these similar papers.

A printing system may employ a paper catalog that stores information forreproducing colors on different papers with a particular printer device.The paper catalog may include paper color information for differentpapers. Such paper color information, for instance, may include thefollowing measurements for each paper: (i) brightness (expressed, forinstance, as reflectance at a wavelength of 457 nm); (ii) whiteness(relative balance of light in the visible spectrum); (iii) fluorescence(amount of fluorescence in the whiteness measurement); and (iv) tint(non-whiteness of paper). Although example embodiments may employevaluations of paper brightness, whiteness, and shade, it is understoodthat other embodiments may consider additional or alternativeinformation relating to paper color information, such as measurements ofyellowness, opacity, gloss, or the like. Most production printspectrophotometers can measure the required paper color information. Aprint shop can measure the paper color information. Alternatively,another party, such as the paper producer or other vendor, may providethe paper color information.

Additionally, the paper catalog may include information relating to acolor management profile for each paper. The color management profile, aset of data describing a color space, is used by the printer device forcolor conversion when printing on a particular paper. The colormanagement profile, for instance, may be an International ColorConsortium (ICC) profile. The ICC profile provides a set of data thatcharacterizes the printer device according to ICC standards by defininga mapping between the printer device source and a color space, such asthe CIELAB or CIEXYZ color space described further below.

Alternatively, the color management profile may be a profile implementedin terms of Tone/Tonal Reproduction Curves (TRCs). For instance,calibration of a printer device involves determining the repeatable maxdensity for the printer device (typically 95% of the max densityachieved when printing the calibration target). Calibration alsoinvolves determining the density at various amounts of ink coverage. TheTRC is created to ensure that the curve is smooth and evenly spaced sothat a good color ramp results. When highly accurate color reproductionis not required, using TRCs suffices. The printer device can check thecalibration periodically and recalibrate to bring the printer colorreproduction back to the calibrated state.

Alternatively, the color management profile may be a profile implementedin terms of TRCs included in the color conversion of an ICC profile.This may be more complex but allows color management applications towork with any printer device without having to worry about thecalibration capabilities of that printer device. A downside of using anICC profile only is that creating an ICC profile requires measuring alot of patches. TRCs provide an ability to perform adjustments to an ICCprofile by measuring a smaller set of patches. Furthermore, the TRC maybe employed to provide stable color reproduction and an ICC Profile isthen employed to get the desired color mapping.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the paper catalogincludes records that are organized according to two defined categoriesof paper: measured papers and standard papers.

Records for measured papers include (i) color paper information asdescribed above, and (ii) a color management profile. The colormanagement profile can be determined by printing and measuring a testtarget. A vendor, such as the printer device manufacturer, can providethe color management profile, or a print shop can produce the colormanagement profile (i.e., profile the paper).

Records for standard papers include (i) color paper information asdescribed above, and (ii) a reference to a measured paper (or areference to the corresponding color management profile). Records forstandard papers do not include color management profiles. Instead, astandard paper is associated with the color management profile in therecord of the referenced measured paper. The use of references tomeasured papers can greatly reduce the number of color managementprofiles that must be measured to manage color for all papers in thepaper catalog.

The reference to a measured paper for a standard paper can be determinedby comparing the paper color information of the standard paper to thepaper color information for the measured papers. The measurements forthe paper color information above can be expressed as numerical values(e.g., decimal numbers) that allow paper color information of differentpapers to be easily compared. The reference to the measured paper isthus determined by selecting the measured paper whose paper colorinformation is closest to the paper color information of the standardpaper. Different rules or criteria may be employed to determine whichmeasured paper is closest or most appropriate for reference by therecord of a standard paper.

Paper color information for the papers can be evaluated according to theCIELAB color space (also known as CIE L*a*b* color space), which is acolor space defined by the International Commission on Illumination(CIE). The CIELAB color space expresses color as three values: L* forthe lightness from black (0) to white (100), a* from green (−) to red(+), and b* from blue (−) to yellow (+). The CIELAB color space isdesigned so that the same amount of numerical change in these valuescorresponds to roughly the same amount of visually perceived change. TheCIE L*a*b* measurements for the papers can be compared using ΔE (DeltaE) measurements, which generally measure change in visual perception oftwo given colors according to standards overseen by the CIE.Alternatively, color paper information can be evaluated according to theCIE 1931 XYZ (CIEXYZ) color space, which measures luminosity andchromacity using a color space based on color vision.

FIGS. 1A, B illustrate an example paper catalog management system 101for managing paper information in a printing system associated with aprinter device. The system 101 includes one or more computer storagedevices 102 configured to store a paper catalog 10. The paper catalog 10includes a first set of records 12 associated with measured papers. Therecords 12 include respective paper color information 12 a and arespective color management profile 12 b for each of the measuredpapers. The paper catalog 10 also includes a second set of records 14associated with standard papers. For each of the standard papers, therecords 14 include respective paper color information 14 a and arespective reference 14 b to one of the measured papers. Through therespective reference 14 b, each standard paper is associated with thecolor management profile 12 b of one of the measured papers.

The system 101 includes processor(s) 104 configured to executeinstructions 20 stored on non-transitory computer-readable media 106.The instructions 20, for instance, can cause the processor(s) 104 toimplement any of the example methods described further below.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example method 200 for adding a new standard paperto the paper catalog 10. FIG. 1A illustrates aspects of the system 101for implementing the method 200. The instructions 20 stored on thecomputer-readable media 106 can cause the processor(s) 104 to performthe method 200. According to the method 200, in an act 202, theprocessor(s) 104 can identify a new standard paper 4′. For instance, auser may specify the new standard paper 4′ for addition to the papercatalog 10. Such input may be provided, for instance, via a digitalfront end (DFE) of the printing system. In an act 204, the processor(s)104 can determine paper color information 14 a′ for the new standardpaper 4′. As described above, the color information 14 a′ can bemeasured by most production print spectrophotometers. A print shop canmeasure the color information 14 a′. Alternatively, another party, suchas the paper producer or other vendor, may provide the color information14 a′.

In an additional act 206, the processor(s) 104 can compare the colorinformation 14 a′ for the new standard paper 4′ to the color information12 a stored in the records 12 for measured papers in the paper catalog10. Based on the comparison in act 206, the processor(s) 104 cancorrelate one of the measured papers to the new standard paper 4′ in anact 208. The correlated measured paper is associated with the record 12′shown in FIG. 1A. In a further act 210, the computer storage device(s)102 store a record 14′ for the new standard paper 4′ in the papercatalog 10. The record 14′ is now stored among the other records 14associated with other standard papers. The record 14′ for the newstandard paper 4′ includes the color information 14 a′ and a reference14 b′ to the record 12′ for the correlated measured paper.Correspondingly, the new standard paper 4′ is associated with the colormanagement profile 12 b′ of the correlated measured paper. In someembodiments, instead of pointing to the record 12′ more generally, thereference 14 b′ may point more directly to the color management profile12 b′ of the record 12′.

Rather than merely referring to the record 12′ (or the color managementprofile 12 b′) of the correlated measured paper, the processor(s) 104may additionally or alternatively copy the color management profile 12b′ to the record 14′ for the new standard paper 4′. If the colormanagement profile 12 b′ for the correlated measured paper is modified,the processor(s) 104 can correspondingly modify the copy of the colormanagement profile 12 b′ in the record 14′.

As described above, the measurements for color information can beexpressed as numerical values (e.g., decimal numbers) that allow colorinformation of different papers to be easily compared. As shown in FIG.1A, the color information 12 a in the records 12 for the measured papersis associated with a color information value 22. Similarly, the colorinformation 14 a in the records 14 for the standard papers is associatedwith a color information value 24.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example method 300 including further acts tosupplement the example method 200 illustrated in FIG. 2. According tothe method 300, the processor(s) 104 in an act 302 can determine a colorinformation value 24′ for the new standard paper 4′ and respective colorinformation values 22 for the records 12 associated with the measuredpapers. Accordingly, in an act 304, the processor(s) 104 can compare thecolor information 14 a′ for the new standard paper 4′ to the colorinformation 12 a for the measured papers by determining differencesbetween the color information value 24′ for the new standard paper 4′and the color information value 22 for each of the records 12.Additionally, in an act 306, the processor(s) 104 can correlate themeasured paper (the record 12′) to the new standard paper 4′ bydetermining that the difference between the color information value 24′for the new standard paper 4′ and the color information value 22′ forthe correlated measured paper is less than the other differences.

The selection of the correlated measured paper 4′ may involve applyingdifferent rules or criteria. For instance, the user may definethresholds that must be satisfied before the standard paper 2′ isassociated with a measured paper. According to the method 300, theprocessor(s) 104 may correlate one of the measured papers to the newstandard paper 4′ by further determining a correlation threshold in anact 308 and determining that the difference between the colorinformation value 24′ for the new standard paper 4′ and the colorinformation value 22′ for the correlated measured paper satisfies thecorrelation threshold in act 310. The correlated measured paper must besufficiently similar to the new standard paper 4′, i.e., within thecorrelation threshold, before the correlated measured paper (the record12′) is associated with the new standard paper 4′ via the reference 14b′ in the paper catalog 10. If the difference between the colorinformation value 24′ for the new standard paper 4′ and a colorinformation value 22 for any of the records 12 for the measured papersfails to satisfy the correlation threshold, the record 14′ for the newstandard paper 4′ may be recorded without a reference 14 b′ to ameasured paper.

As shown further in FIG. 1A, the color information 14 a for the standardpapers and the color information 12 a for the measured papers aredefined according to a plurality of attributes. For instance, theplurality of attributes may include brightness, whiteness, tint,yellowness, opacity, and/or gloss. The color information 12 a for themeasured papers may be associated with attribute values 32, i.e.,measurements for each of the plurality of attributes. The colorinformation 14 a for the standard papers may be associated withattribute values 34, i.e., measurements for each of the plurality ofattributes. As described above, for instance, the color information 14a′ for the new standard paper 4′ can be determined by measuring thecolor information 14 a′ with a spectrophotometer.

Thus, in the act 302, the processor(s) 104 may determine the colorinformation value 24′ for the new standard paper 4′ according to a(numerical) combination of the attribute values 34′. Additionally, theprocessor(s) 104 may determine the color information values 22 for themeasured papers according to a (numerical) combination of the attributevalues 32. The processor(s) 104 may correlate one of the measured papersto the new standard paper 4′ by additionally determining one or morecorrelation thresholds based on the plurality of attributes, and thendetermining that difference(s) between the attribute values 34′ for thenew standard paper 4′ and corresponding attribute values 32′ for thecorrelated measured paper satisfy the one or more correlationthresholds. As such, one or more of the attributes of the new standardpaper 4′ must be sufficiently similar to the corresponding attributes ofthe correlated measured paper, i.e., within the correlation thresholds,before the correlated measured paper (the record 12′) can be associatedwith the new standard paper 4′ via the reference 14 b′. If thedifference between one of the attribute values 34′ for the new standardpaper 4′ and a corresponding attribute value 32′ for the correlatedmeasured paper 2′ fails to satisfy a correlation threshold, the record14′ for the new standard paper 4′ can be recorded without a reference 14b′ to a measured paper 2.

As indicated in FIG. 1A, each of the plurality of attributes may beassociated with a respective weighting. In some cases, such weightingmay depend on a configuration of the printer device. For instance, amonochrome printer device may give more weight to tint informationwhereas a color printer device may give more weight to brightness andfluorescence information. Correspondingly, the color information value24 for the new standard paper 4′ and the color information values 22 forthe measured papers may be further determined according to theweightings for the plurality of attributes. Additionally, theprocessor(s) 104 may identify a printer device (e.g., monochrome printerdevice, color printer device, etc.) and determine the weightings of theplurality of attributes 16 according to the printer device.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example method 400 for adding a new measured paperto the paper catalog 10. FIG. 1B illustrates aspects of the system 101for implementing the method 400. As described above, the print catalog10 includes the first set of records 12 associated with the measuredpapers, where the records 12 include respective color information 12 aand a respective color management profile 12 b for each of the measuredpapers. Additionally, the print catalog includes the second set ofrecords 14 associated with standard papers, where the records 14 includea respective reference 14 b to one of the records 12 for the measuredpapers in the paper catalog 10.

The instructions 20 stored on the computer-readable media 106 can causethe processor(s) 104 to perform the method 400. According to the method400, the processor(s) 104, in an act 402, can identify a new measuredpaper 2″ to be added to the paper catalog 10. The new measured paper 2″is not associated with any of the records 12 in the paper catalog 10. Inan act 404, the processor(s) 104 can determine paper color information12 a″ and a color management profile 12 b″ for the new measured paper2″. As described above, a print shop can produce the color managementprofile 12 a″ or the color management profile 12 b″. Alternatively,another party, such as a vendor, can provide information for the colorinformation 12 a″ or the color management profile 12 b″.

In an act 406, the computer storage device(s) 102 store a record 12″ forthe new measured paper 2″ in the paper catalog 10. The record 12″includes the color information 12 a″ and the color management profile 12b″ for the new measured paper 2″. The record 12″ is now included in thepaper catalog 10 among the previously stored measured papers. At thispoint, each record 14 for the standard papers remains associated,through the respective reference 14 b, with the color management profile12 b of one of the previously stored measured papers. However, with theaddition to the paper catalog 10, the color management profile 12 b″ ofthe new measured paper 2″ may provide a most appropriate colormanagement profile for color conversion on some of the standard papers.The color information 12 a″ of the new measured paper 2″ may be moresimilar to the color information 14 a for some of the standard papersthan the color information 12 a for the previously stored measuredpapers. Accordingly, in an act 408, responsive to storing the new record12″ for the new measured paper 2″ in the paper catalog 10, theprocessor(s) 104 may update the references 14 b for the records 14 ofsome of the standard papers.

To update the references 14 b for the records 14 of some of the standardpapers, the processor(s) 104 may compare, in an act 410, the colorinformation 14 a for the standard papers and the color information 12 afor the measured papers, which now includes the new measured paper 2″.These comparisons may be achieved in a manner similar to the comparisonsdescribed in the methods above, e.g., comparing color informationvalues, which may be based on a plurality of weighted or unweightedattribute values. Based on the comparison in the act 410, theprocessor(s) determine, in an act 412, new correlations between themeasured papers and the standard papers. These correlations may also beachieved in a manner similar to the correlations described in themethods above, e.g., applying correlation thresholds to colorinformation values and/or attribute values. In an act 414, theprocessor(s) 104 can update the references 14 b for the records 14 inthe paper catalog 10 according to the new correlations.

In general, the measured papers can be dynamically correlated to thestandard papers in response to different updates to the paper catalog10, as illustrated by FIG. 5. The instructions 20 stored on thecomputer-readable media 106 can cause the processor(s) 104 to perform anexample method 500 shown in FIG. 5. As described above, the measuredpapers and standard papers are distinguished in the paper catalog 10 byrecords having or not having a color management profile 12 b (as opposedto a reference 14 b). In other words, each record 12 for the measuredpapers has respective color paper information 12 a and a respectivecolor management profile 12 b, while each record 14 for the standardpapers has respective color paper information 14 a but no respectivecolor management profile.

The processor(s) 104 can automatically and dynamically respond to amodification to the paper catalog 10 in an act 502 by comparing thecolor information 14 a for the standard papers and the color information12 a for the measured papers. These comparisons may be achieved in amanner similar to the comparisons described in the methods above, e.g.,comparing color information values, which may be based on a plurality ofweighted or unweighted attribute values.

The modification to the paper catalog 10 may include adding a new record12, 14 for a new measured paper or a new standard paper to the papercatalog 10. The modification to the paper catalog 10 may includedeleting a record 12, 14 from the paper catalog 10. The modification tothe paper catalog 10 may include converting a measured paper to astandard paper by removing the respective color management profile 12 afrom the corresponding record 12. The modification to the paper catalog10 may include converting a standard paper to a measured paper by addinga color management profile to the corresponding record 14.

The modification to the paper catalog 10 may include modifying therespective color information 12 a, 14 a for at least one of the records12, 14, or modifying the respective color management profile 12 b for atleast one of the records 12. As described above, a print shop canproduce the color management profile or the color management profile.Alternatively, another party, such as a vendor, can provide informationfor the color information or the color management profile. Where theprint shop produces a color management profile and/or a color managementprofile, a vendor-provided information can be retained so that one hasan option to revert to this information. Reverting to thevendor-provided information may be a modification to the printer catalog10.

In response to the comparison in the act 502, the processor(s) 104 inact 504 can correlate the measured papers to the standard papers. Thecorrelation in the act 502 may be achieved in a manner similar to thecorrelations described in the methods above, e.g., applying correlationthresholds to color information values and/or attribute values. In anact 506, the processor(s) 104 can further update the records 12, 14 ofthe paper catalog 10 according to the correlations between the measuredpapers and the standard papers. According to one embodiment, theprocessor(s) 104 may correlate one of the measured papers to each of thestandard papers in the act 504, and in response, update the records 14for the standard papers in an act 506 to include references 14 b to thecorrelated measured papers. According to some embodiments, theprocessor(s) may determine in a further act 508 that at least one of thestandard papers is not correlated to one of the measured papers, and assuch, the computer storage device(s) 102 can store the record(s) 14 forthe non-correlated standard paper(s) without a reference 14 b in an act510.

When a user selects a paper, the printing system by default can use thecolor management profile 12 b stored in the paper catalog 10 for a colorconversion on measured paper. Alternatively, the printing system bydefault can process the reference 14 b stored in the paper catalog toobtain a color management profile for color conversion on a standardpaper. The printing system, however, may allow associations between thestandard papers and the measured papers to be dynamically modified(e.g., at the time of printing). For instance, the printing system mayallow a user to input print instructions (e.g., via the DFE) thatspecify different attribute weightings and/or correlation thresholds.The print instructions can be provided, for instance, through printerdevice settings. These specifications for attribute weightings and/orcorrelation thresholds may generate correlations between the standardpapers and the measured papers that are different from the correlationsthat are stored in the paper catalog 10. For instance, for monochromeprinting, the user may input print instructions that give tint moreweight. Or for color printing, the user may input print instructionsthat give brightness more weight. Or to produce higher qualityreproduction, the user may input print instructions with correlationthresholds that require a greater similarity between a standard paperand the correlated measured paper.

Furthermore, the printing system may allow a user to define rules forselecting different settings for attribute weightings and/or correlationthresholds in particular circumstances. For instance, rules may specifysettings with different attribute weightings for monochrome jobs thatare more than 100 pages or for color jobs that are more than 100 MB insize. Or for print jobs for a customer with particular requirements,rules may specify settings with different correlation thresholds. Suchrules may involve any type of print job information available to colorconversion system or the printing system generally (either at the DFE ofthe printing system or upstream of the DFE). Additionally, the printingsystem may also apply rules to handle particular exceptional conditions.For instance, rules may prevent the printing system to complete printjobs on standard papers for particular customers if the records 14 forstandard papers do not include a reference 14 b to a measured paper.

Accordingly, for standard papers, the references to measured papers maybe stored statically in the paper catalog 10 as the references 14 b inthe records 14. Alternatively, the references to measured papers may bedynamically determined in real time (e.g., at the time of printing)according print instructions from the user (e.g., withspecifications/rules for attribute weightings or correlation thresholds)which may generate different correlations. The references to measuredpapers determine the color management profiles and thus the colorconversion in the print jobs on standard papers. The users can controlthe color management profiles for as many or as few papers as desired.The printing system is then responsible for using the resulting colormanagement profiles with as many papers as possible.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example method 600 for handling print instructionsfrom a user. As described above, the measured papers and standard papersare distinguished in the paper catalog 10 by records having or nothaving a color management profile 12 b (as opposed to a reference 14 b).In other words, each record 12 for the measured papers has respectivepaper information 12 a and a respective color management profile 12 b,while each record 14 for the standard papers has respective paperinformation 14 a but no respective color management profile.

The instructions 20 stored on the computer-readable media 106 can causethe processor(s) 104 to perform the method 600. According to the method600, in an act 602, the processor(s) 104 can identify one of thestandard papers selected by a user for a print job. In an act 604, theprocessor(s) 104 can receive, from the user, print instructionsincluding color preferences. The color preferences, for instance, may bedetermined by specifications/rules for attribute weightings orcorrelation thresholds as described above. In an act 606, theprocessor(s) 104 can correlate one of the measured papers to theselected standard paper according to the color preferences in the printinstructions. In an act 608, the processor(s) 104 can output the colormanagement profile of the correlated measured paper for printing withthe selected standard paper.

If the color preferences involve correlation thresholds, theprocessor(s) 104 can determine respective color information values forthe selected standard paper and the correlated measured paper. Theprocessor(s) 104 can then determine a difference between the respectivecolor information values for the selected standard paper and thecorrelated measured paper, where the color preferences includes acorrelation threshold. Accordingly, the processor(s) 104 can correlateone of the measured papers to the selected standard paper by determiningwhether the difference between the respective color information valuesfor the selected standard paper and the correlated measured papersatisfies the correlation threshold.

In some embodiments, the color information for the selected standardpaper and the color information for the measured papers are definedaccording to a plurality of attributes, and the print instructionsinclude color preferences relating to the plurality of attributes. Forinstance, the plurality of attributes may include a measurement ofbrightness, whiteness, tint, yellowness, opacity, and/or gloss. Forthese embodiments, the processor(s) 104 can determine attribute valuesfor the plurality of attributes for the selected standard paper and thecorrelated measured paper. Additionally, the processor(s) 104 candetermine differences between the attribute values for the selectedstandard paper and the correlated measured paper. Furthermore, theprocessor(s) 104 in the act 606 can correlate one of the measured papersto the selected standard paper by determining whether the differencesbetween the attribute values for the selected standard paper and thecorrelated measured paper satisfy one or more correlation thresholds.

In further embodiments, the color preferences include one or moreweightings relating to the plurality of attributes. For suchembodiments, the processor(s) 104 can determine attribute values for theplurality of attributes for the selected standard paper and thecorrelated measured paper based on the one or more weightings.Additionally, the processor(s) 104 can determine differences between theattribute values for the selected standard paper and the correlatedmeasured paper. Thus, the processor(s) 104 in the act 606 can correlatethe correlated measured paper to the selected standard paper accordingto the differences between the attribute values for the selectedstandard paper and the correlated measured paper.

The printing system may also include a feature for recommending whichpapers should be profiled (with a color management profile) to getreasonable color reproduction while maintaining the smallest possiblenumber of color management profiles. As shown in FIG. 7, the printingsystem 100 with a printer device 108 can evaluate the color informationfor the papers in the paper catalog 10 and organize the papers withsimilar characteristics into groups 6. A user may control how the papersare organized, including determining the number and/or size of thegroups 6. Once the papers are organized into the groups 6, the printingsystem 100 can identify a representative paper for each group 6 andrecommends that the representative paper be profiled for the respectivegroup 6. With a color management profile, the representative paper isthe only measured paper associated with a record 12 in the group 6,while the other papers in the group 6 are standard papers associatedwith records 14 including a reference 14 b to the representativemeasured paper. The number of standard papers associated with themeasured paper in the group 6 may be determined according to thresholdsthat define how similar the standard papers should be to the measuredpaper in the group 6. For instance, the standard papers and the measuredpaper in the group satisfy a correlation threshold.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example method 800 for organizing the papers inthe paper catalog 10. As described above, the measured papers andstandard papers are distinguished in the paper catalog 10 by recordshaving or not having a color management profile 12 b (as opposed to areference 14 b). In other words, each record 12 for the measured papershave respective color paper information 12 a and a respective colormanagement profile 12 b, while each record 14 for the standard papershas respective color paper information 14 a but no respective colormanagement profile.

The instructions 20 stored on the computer-readable media 106 can causethe processor(s) 104 to perform the method 800. According to the method800, the processor(s) 104 in an act 802 can determine a recommendationindicating whether one or more of the records for standard papers shouldbe converted to records for measured papers and whether one or more ofthe records for measured papers should be converted to records forstandard papers. In an act 804, the processor(s) 104 can output therecommendation determined in the act 802. Furthermore, in an act 806,the processor(s) 104 can update the paper catalog 10 according to therecommendation.

To develop a recommendation, the processor(s) 104 can group the measuredpapers into a plurality of the groups 6 according to sharedcharacteristics in an act 808. These shared characteristics, forinstance, may relate to the respective color information for themeasured papers. In other words, the groups 6 can be defined to organizesubsets of the measured papers with color information values that fallwithin a specified range. As described above, the number of standardpapers associated with the measured paper in the group 6 may bedetermined according to thresholds that define how similar the standardpapers should be to the measured paper in the group 6. For each group,the processor(s) 104 can select a representative one of the measuredpapers in an act 810. For instance, the selected measured paper may bemost representative by having a color information value that is closestto the average color information value for the measured papers in thegroup 6. Thus, in an act 812, the processor(s) 104 can thus recommendconverting all but the representative measured paper to a standard paperwith reference to the representative measured paper. Accordingly, in theact 814, the processor(s) 104 can update the paper catalog to convertother measured papers in the group to standard papers by recording, forthe other measured papers, a reference to the representative measuredpaper. The standard papers then are associated with the color managementprofile of the representative measured paper.

In some embodiments, the paper catalog 10 includes previous records 14for standard papers with references 14 b to the measured papers that areconverted to the standard papers in the act 814. In such embodiments,the processor(s) 104 can also update the paper catalog by updating theprevious records to include updated references 14 b to therepresentative measured paper, so that the previous standard papers areassociated with the color management profile of the representativemeasured paper.

As described above, the recommendation may be determined by thresholdsthat define how similar the standard papers should be to the measuredpaper in the group 6. In cases where the thresholds are more stringent,the recommendation may result in more measured papers (and groups).Alternatively, in cases where the thresholds are more stringent, therecommendation may result in fewer measured papers (and groups).

Aspects of the systems above may be implemented as a combination ofhardware and software elements. The hardware elements may be implementedas combinations of operatively coupled microprocessors, logicalcircuitry, communication/networking ports, digital filters, memory, orlogical circuitry. The processor(s) may be adapted to perform operationsspecified by computer-executable instructions, which may be stored on acomputer readable medium. The example embodiments are not limited to anyspecific combination of hardware circuitry and/or software.

As described above, some or all of the acts of the described andillustrated methods can be performed or guided under the control of oneor more processors (e.g., the processor(s) 104) that execute software,or stored instructions. In general, physical processors and/or machinesemployed by embodiments of the present disclosure for any processing orevaluation may include one or more networked or non-networked generalpurpose computer systems, microprocessors, field programmable gatearrays (FPGA's), digital signal processors (DSP's), micro-controllers,and the like, programmed according to the teachings of the exampleembodiments of the present disclosure, as is appreciated by thoseskilled in the computer and software arts.

Appropriate software can be readily prepared by programmers of ordinaryskill based on the teachings of the example embodiments, as isappreciated by those skilled in the software art. Stored on any one oron a combination of non-transitory computer readable media, the exampleembodiments of the present disclosure may include software forcontrolling the devices and subsystems of the example embodiments, fordriving the devices and subsystems of the example embodiments, forenabling the devices and subsystems of the example embodiments tointeract with a human user, and the like. Such software can include, butis not limited to, device drivers, firmware, operating systems,development tools, applications software, and the like. Such computerreadable media further can include the computer program product of anembodiment of the present disclosure for performing all or a portion (ifprocessing is distributed) of the processing performed inimplementations. Computer code devices of the example embodiments of thepresent disclosure can include any suitable interpretable or executablecode mechanism, including but not limited to scripts, interpretableprograms, dynamic link libraries (DLLs), Java classes and applets,complete executable programs, and the like. Moreover, parts of theprocessing of the example embodiments of the present disclosure can bedistributed for better performance, reliability, cost, and the like.

Common forms of non-transitory computer-readable media may include, forexample, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, anyother suitable magnetic medium, a CDROM, CDRW, DVD, any other suitableoptical medium, punch cards, paper tape, optical mark sheets, any othersuitable physical medium with patterns of holes or other opticallyrecognizable indicia, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any othersuitable memory chip or cartridge, or any other suitable medium fromwhich a computer can read.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one ormore particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognizethat many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spiritand scope of the present disclosure. Each of these embodiments andobvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spiritand scope of the invention. It is also contemplated that additionalembodiments according to aspects of the present disclosure may combineany number of features from any of the embodiments described herein.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A method for managing paper information in aprinting system, comprising: storing, in one or more computer storagedevices, a paper catalog, the paper catalog including records formeasured papers, each measured paper being defined by a respective colorinformation and a respective color management profile; grouping, by oneor more computer processors, the measured papers into a plurality ofgroups according to shared characteristics; and for each group:selecting, by one or more computer processors, a representative one ofthe measured papers; and updating, by one or more computer processors,the paper catalog to convert other measured papers in the group tostandard papers by recording, for the other measured papers, a referenceto the representative measured paper, wherein the standard papers areassociated with the color management profile of the representativemeasured paper.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the sharedcharacteristics relate to the respective color information for themeasured papers.
 23. The method of claim 22, further comprisingdetermining, by the one or more computer processors, respective colorinformation values for the measured papers, wherein the measured papersare grouped according to the color information values for the measuredpapers, and the groups are defined according to ranges of colorinformation values.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the colorinformation for the measured papers are defined according to a pluralityof attributes, and determining respective color information values forthe measured papers includes determining attribute values for theplurality of attributes for each of the measured papers, the respectivecolor information values for the measured papers being determinedaccording to the attribute values.
 25. The method of claim 24, whereineach of the plurality of attributes is associated with a respectiveweighting, and the color information value for the color informationvalues for the measured papers are further determined according to theweightings of the plurality of attributes.
 26. The method of claim 21,wherein each group includes records for previous standard papersincluding respective references to the measured papers converted to thestandard papers, and the method further comprises updating the recordsfor the previous standard papers to include updated respectivereferences to the representative measured paper, wherein the previousstandard papers are associated with the color management profile of therepresentative measured paper.
 27. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising printing, with a printer device, on a selected one of thestandard papers according to the color management profile of therepresentative measured paper in the group for the selected standardpaper.
 28. A system for managing paper information in a printing system,comprising: one or more computer storage devices configured to store apaper catalog including records for measured papers, each measured paperbeing defined by a respective color information and a respective colormanagement profile; and one or more computer processors configured toexecute instructions stored on computer-readable media, the instructionscausing the one or more processors to: group the measured papers into aplurality of groups according to shared characteristics; and for eachgroup: select a representative one of the measured papers; and updatethe paper catalog to convert other measured papers in the group tostandard papers by recording, for the other measured papers, a referenceto the representative measured paper, wherein the standard papers areassociated with the color management profile of the representativemeasured paper.
 29. The system of claim 28, wherein the sharedcharacteristics relate to the respective color information for themeasured papers.
 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the instructionsfurther cause the one or more processors to determine respective colorinformation values for the measured papers, wherein the measured papersare grouped according to the color information values for the measuredpapers, and the groups are defined according to ranges of colorinformation values.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the colorinformation for the measured papers are defined according to a pluralityof attributes, and the one or more processors determine respective colorinformation values for the measured papers by determining attributevalues for the plurality of attributes for each of the measured papers,the respective color information values for the measured papers beingdetermined according to the attribute values.
 32. The system of claim31, wherein each of the plurality of attributes is associated with arespective weighting, and the color information value for the colorinformation values for the measured papers are further determinedaccording to the weightings of the plurality of attributes.
 33. Thesystem of claim 28, wherein each group includes records for previousstandard papers including respective references to the measured papersconverted to the standard papers, and the instructions further cause theone or more processors to update the records for the previous standardpapers to include updated respective references to the representativemeasured paper, wherein the previous standard papers are associated withthe color management profile of the representative measured paper. 34.The system of claim 28, further comprising a printer device, wherein theprinter device prints on a selected one of the standard papers accordingto the color management profile of the representative measured paper inthe group for the selected standard paper.
 35. One or morenon-transitory computer-readable storage media for a printing system,the printing system including one or more computer storage devicesconfigured to store a paper catalog including records for measuredpapers, each measured paper being defined by a respective colorinformation and a respective color management profile, the one or morenon-transitory computer-readable storage media havingcomputer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein when executedby a one or more processors, the computer-executable instructions causethe one or more processors to: group the measured papers into aplurality of groups according to shared characteristics; and for eachgroup: select a representative one of the measured papers; and updatethe paper catalog to convert other measured papers in the group tostandard papers by recording, for the other measured papers, a referenceto the representative measured paper, wherein the standard papers areassociated with the color management profile of the representativemeasured paper.
 36. The one or more non-transitory computer-readablestorage media of claim 35, wherein the shared characteristics relate tothe respective color information for the measured papers.
 37. The one ormore non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 36, whereinthe instructions further cause the one or more processors to determinerespective color information values for the measured papers, wherein themeasured papers are grouped according to the color information valuesfor the measured papers, and the groups are defined according to rangesof color information values.
 38. The one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media of claim 37, wherein the colorinformation for the measured papers are defined according to a pluralityof attributes, and the one or more processors determine respective colorinformation values for the measured papers by determining attributevalues for the plurality of attributes for each of the measured papers,the respective color information values for the measured papers beingdetermined according to the attribute values.
 39. The one or morenon-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 38, wherein eachof the plurality of attributes is associated with a respectiveweighting, and the color information value for the color informationvalues for the measured papers are further determined according to theweightings of the plurality of attributes.
 40. The one or morenon-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 35, wherein eachgroup includes records for previous standard papers including respectivereferences to the measured papers converted to the standard papers, andthe instructions further cause the one or more processors to update therecords for the previous standard papers to include updated respectivereferences to the representative measured paper, wherein the previousstandard papers are associated with the color management profile of therepresentative measured paper. 41-60. (canceled)